Andrew Foster – “Panic Moon”
Posted on 03/03/2011 by editor
Surely one of the most prolific and consistent singer-songwriters around at the moment is Portsmouth’s Andrew Foster? Not only is he consistently brilliant but he is always looking for to move forward.
His latest album “Panic Moon” is a bigger sounding and an all round more ambitious album than last year’s “The Garden“, which was a superb album in its own rustic, organic way.
Foster says himself that “Panic Moon” is influenced readily by 60′s psychedelic pop and “Hunky Dory”, with his backing band The Watchmen (essentially made up of the fantastic Loz Bridge & The Box Social) playing a more active and apparent part throughout, as opposed to Foster’s previously more acoustic based output.
Fundamentally however this is still very much an Andrew Foster album. The melodies are intact which benefit from Foster’s assured vocal style. Foster’s work always has a real Englishness to it and “Panic Moon” is no different.
Opening tracks “Kaleidoscope” and “Amy Watches The Stars” get things off to a dreamy, accomplished start with the melodies shining through in HD.
“Dark Astronaut” was the first track that I heard from the album and instantly intrigued me as to the more ambitious sound that was on offer. It is amongst the most atmospheric things that Foster has done, again it benefits from the band playing a more active role, not in a smart-arse, over-indulgent way. No, the Watchmen help these songs realise their potential in a solid way and it works throughout the album.
“Zombie Dance” boasts possibly the sleaziest blues riff that you’ll hear this year and again shows another different side to Foster’s songwriting. The album’s title track “Panic Moon” follows and is edgy enough to build up along at a pace that is enough to keep the listener’s attention and intrigue throughout.
The gorgeous “Girls” follows. This reverts to a starker, more acoustic arrangement with Foster’s fascinating lyrics coming to the fore. Halloween single “Stone Tape Theory” is as atmospheric and as creepy a track as you’ll hear before descending into its Queens Of The Stone Age-meets-”Go Let It Out” by Oasis climax.
“Panic Moon” once again shows Andrew Foster to be a genuine talent. Never less than engaging, this is another step forward. “Panic Moon” is sure to find itself in many “Album Of The Year” lists when December comes.
Many thanks to Paul Lane for his continued support.
check out the unplug the jukebox blogsite here
http://unplugthejukebox.com/2011/03/andrew-foster-panic-moon/
